The Rivers State Government has intensified its fight against medical quackery, pledging to track down fake doctors and close facilities offering health services without proper authorisation or qualifications.
According to the State Ministry of Health Anti-Quackery Committee, four facilities posing as hospitals and clinics across the state were recently sealed for violating medical and health service regulations. One of them, the committee noted, operated both as a clinic—carrying out surgeries—and as a non-governmental organisation.
Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday, the Director of Medical Services and Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, said the panel was mandated to identify and eliminate quacks operating under various guises across the state, and to enforce disciplinary measures, including prosecution in collaboration with relevant agencies.
Wachukwu expressed concern that despite the committee’s efforts, some individuals persist in offering dangerous medical services. He condemned the case of a patent medicine dealer who attempted to deliver a pregnant woman, leading to fatal complications.
He stated, “Miss Rejoice Ogbia is a patent medicine dealer in Aluu (Ikwerre LGA. We visited to investigate the petition against her. She was alleged to be engaged in the administration of IV medications and traditional birth attendant services, rendering all manner of services that she was not supposed to render.
“Even though sometimes you need to catch them red-handed, because there was nobody watching. But there have been petitions against her, but she claimed she denied ever carrying out such practice. So she was, however, issued a stern warning, educated on the need to refer any case beyond OTC medication to the nearest centre, and never engaged in such activities again.”
He added, “It will surprise you to note that these practices are still going on in so many areas, many local governments, including Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, and its environs, unabated. Based on this, the committee has continued its activities in visiting these facilities to look into what they are doing and take necessary actions.”
Wachukwu disclosed that based on reports from individuals, civil society organisations, corporate groups, and even religious bodies, the committee sealed several facilities last week. Among them was “Bristol Clinic and Maternity” in Obio/Akpor LGA, which he described as an unregistered six-bed hospital operating in a three-bedroom apartment.
“Top on that list is a clinic they call Bristol Clinic and Maternity located at N0 1 Redemption Close, Omachi, Rumuodomaya (in Obio/Akpor LGA). This facility is an unregistered six-bed hospital operating in a three-bedroom apartment run by one Kingsley Ugwu, who obviously is a quack because the prefix to his name is Mr.
“This man paraded himself as a doctor and boasted of running maternity and surgical services. The registration of this facility was revoked by the Rivers State Ministry of Health over a decade ago.”
He continued, “Mr Kingsley Ugwu, the so-called Managing Director is not a Medical Doctor, and there were no licensed medical personnel, nurses, or pharmacists. Yet he carried out surgeries in a poorly equipped facility.”
The committee sealed the facility and arrested Mr. Ugwu, who is currently under investigation.
Another facility, “Adoration Hospital and Maternity Limited” in Ikwerre LGA, was also sealed. According to Wachukwu, it was merely a small three-room shop converted into a hospital, with no licensed medical staff and no infection prevention measures. He said, “In fact, you can’t even believe that human beings are being managed in that facility.”
He explained that the proprietor, a recently graduated doctor, was summoned for further investigation.
Similarly, “Lucky Pharmacy” in Omagwa, also in Ikwerre LGA, was shut down for operating illegally. Wachukwu revealed that the patent medicine dealer who ran the premises had been administering treatment and admitting patients without any medical training.
He said, “He (the suspect) left what he said he leant under his brother, that is, selling drugs and went into diagnosis and treatment. He was admitting people, setting up infusions right there in the pharmacy. So that facility was subsequently sealed, and he was referred to the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria because everything we are doing is in collaboration with all the other healthcare units.”
Another unregistered facility, “Sosan Medical Centre” in Obio/Akpor LGA, was also discovered to be operating illegally. Wachukwu said it doubled as a residential building, a clinic, and even a self-styled School of Nursing.
“Now it will surprise you to note that we visited one ‘Sosan Medical Centre’ located at Peace Estate off Road D, Okporo Road. (Obio/Akpor LGA). This is an unregistered facility. It is a four-bedroom semi-detached duplex. It serves as a residential house, a medical centre, and also as a non-governmental organisation.
“They didn’t stop there. They are also training nurses. On their signpost is boldly written ‘School of Nursing.’ And you begin to wonder who gave them that registration to run the School of Nursing. So, that facility was also sealed.
“The proprietor or proprietress, who was not on the ground at the time we visited, was also invited to the ministry for questioning. Anything else that follows thereafter, the press will get to know. We have also informed the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria about their activities so that they will be properly investigated and the necessary disciplinary action taken against them.”
Wachukwu revealed that since the committee’s inception, 72 hospitals had been sealed and 12 suspects arrested, including a Korean national whose case was referred to the DSS and who was later deported. He credited security agencies and civil society groups for their support in identifying illegal medical activities.
He also warned religious bodies and churches to desist from organising medical outreaches without authorisation from the ministry, saying such activities endanger lives.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association in Rivers State, Dr. Diamond Tamunokuro, stressed that quacks would no longer be tolerated.
Tamunokuro said, “Let that central message resonate around the state that if you are not registered with the Rivers State Ministry of Health you’re not qualified to do what you are currently doing. If you are practicing in a place that is not supposed to be used for a hospital, then you should desist from it from now on because the anti-quackery committee will get you.”
He added, “We are going to places far away from the main city. The moment the committee gets you, you will be arrested and prosecuted.”
